About McCallum High School
McCallum High School, one of 11 comprehensive high schools in Austin Independent School District, serves grades 9-12 from a campus at 5600 Sunshine Drive, Austin, TX 78756. The mascot is the Knights; school colors are Royal Blue and Grey. The principal is Andy Baxa. The school enrolled approximately 1,897 students for the most recent reporting year, with a pupil-teacher ratio of approximately 18:1.
McCallum High School (founded 1953) is best known for its Fine Arts Academy, established in 1994 with 17 students and now serving 500+ across visual arts, dance, theatre, cinematic arts, voice, and instrumental music. McCallum was awarded the 2015 Grammy Foundation National Signature School designation — described as 'the lone recipient out of thousands of fine arts high schools in the country.' McCallum's traditional rival is Anderson HS. State titles include baseball (1956, 1997), boys basketball (1966, 1992), boys golf (1980), and volleyball (1994, 1997).
The campus offers Fine Arts Academy (visual arts, dance, theatre, cinematic arts, voice, instrumental music), Advanced Placement courses, dual credit, journalism (21 students named to 2023 ILPC All-State journalism staff — most from any TX HS), CTE pathways, and a UIL Class 5A athletics slate. McCallum High School competes in UIL Class 5A. Notable Knight alumni include astronaut Timothy Kopra, professional golfer Tom Kite, Olympic rower Kaitlin Knifton, and actor Austin Nichols.
Austin ISD operates 114 schools serving approximately 69,251 students as of the 2025-26 school year, including 11 traditional comprehensive high schools plus magnet/specialty campuses such as LASA, the Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders, and Garza Independence HS. International High School closed at the end of 2025-26 under the same consolidation plan. AISD holds a "B" overall TEA accountability rating (81 of 100) for the 2025-26 accountability year — the most recent year TEA has rated. District administration is at 4000 South IH-35 Frontage Road in Austin (78704). AISD covers most of the city of Austin plus Sunset Valley, San Leanna, and portions of unincorporated Travis County.
Living in McCallum High School
McCallum High School at 5600 Sunshine Drive (Austin 78756) is one of AISD's mid-sized comprehensive HS — best known for its nationally-recognized Fine Arts Academy magnet program. UIL Class 5A; mascot Knights; colors royal blue and grey. Principal Andy Baxa. Enrollment approximately 1,897 (2025-26). The campus was founded in 1953 and sits between Burnet Road and Lamar Boulevard in the heart of north-central Austin.
The McCallum Fine Arts Academy was established in 1994 with 17 students and now serves 500+. Programs include visual arts, dance, theatre, cinematic arts, voice, and instrumental music. McCallum was awarded the 2015 Grammy Foundation National Signature School designation — described by the Foundation as "the lone recipient out of thousands of fine arts high schools in the country" — with the music program receiving $5,000 from the Grammy Foundation. McCallum's journalism program produced 21 students named to the 2023 ILPC All-State journalism staff — more than any other Texas high school. McCallum's traditional rival is L.C. Anderson HS.
The McCallum attendance zone is fed by 3 middle schools — Kealing MS (1607 Pennsylvania Ave; AISD's flagship PreAP / Gifted & Talented magnet), Lamar MS (6201 Wynona Ave; AISD's Fine Arts Academy magnet), and Murchison MS (3724 N Hills Drive) — plus 13+ elementaries including Blackshear, Blanton, Brentwood, Campbell, Davis, Doss, Gullett, Hill, Lee, Maplewood, Oak Springs, Ridgetop, and Summitt.
The zone covers north-central Austin between MoPac (Loop 1) and IH-35, from 38th Street north to Anderson Lane. Master neighborhoods include Hyde Park (Austin's first planned suburb, founded 1891 — Austin's earliest streetcar suburb, preserving dozens of 1890s-1930s bungalows along Speedway and 45th), North Loop, Crestview, Brentwood, Allandale, Highland, North Shoal Creek, and the Triangle area.
McCallum's state athletic titles include baseball (1956, 1997), boys' basketball (1966, 1992), boys' golf (1980), and volleyball (1994, 1997). Notable Knight alumni include astronaut Timothy Kopra (NASA, served on the International Space Station); professional golfer Tom Kite (1992 U.S. Open champion, World Golf Hall of Fame); Olympic rower Kaitlin Knifton; and actor Austin Nichols (One Tree Hill, The Walking Dead).
Day-to-day retail centers on the Burnet Road corridor (one of Austin's most active retail-and-restaurant strips, with The Tavern at 12th Street since 1916, Top Notch Hamburgers since 1971 — featured in Linklater's 'Dazed and Confused' — and Bryan's Black Mountain BBQ as long-established anchors), the Anderson Lane retail district (Crestview Shopping Center, the former Northcross Mall site), 45th Street (Triangle), and North Loop's eclectic 51st-53rd Street commercial. Healthcare access centers on Ascension Seton Medical Center Austin (38th Street, just south of the zone) and the Heart Hospital of Austin (38th Street).
Outdoor recreation centers on Shoal Creek Greenway (running along Shoal Creek Boulevard from 45th Street north toward Walnut Creek), Brentwood Neighborhood Park, Allandale Park, and the Highland Mall TOD redevelopment around the former Highland Mall (now Austin Community College's Highland campus on Airport Boulevard).
Frequently Asked Questions
What grades does McCallum High School serve?
McCallum High School serves grades 9-12 in Austin ISD. The school enrolled approximately 1,897 students for the most recent reporting year, with a pupil-teacher ratio of approximately 18:1.
Where is McCallum High School located?
McCallum High School is at 5600 Sunshine Drive, Austin, TX 78756.
What is McCallum High School's mascot?
The McCallum High School mascot is the Knights; school colors are Royal Blue and Grey.
What is McCallum High School known for?
McCallum High School (founded 1953) is best known for its Fine Arts Academy, established in 1994 with 17 students and now serving 500+ across visual arts, dance, theatre, cinematic arts, voice, and instrumental music. McCallum was awarded the 2015 Grammy Foundation National Signature School designation — described as 'the lone recipient out of thousands of fine arts high schools in the country.' McCallum's traditional rival is Anderson HS. State titles include baseball (1956, 1997), boys basketball (1966, 1992), boys golf (1980), and volleyball (1994, 1997).
What programs does McCallum High School offer?
McCallum High School offers Fine Arts Academy (visual arts, dance, theatre, cinematic arts, voice, instrumental music), Advanced Placement courses, dual credit, journalism (21 students named to 2023 ILPC All-State journalism staff — most from any TX HS), CTE pathways, and a UIL Class 5A athletics slate.
Who are some notable McCallum High School alumni?
Notable Knight alumni include astronaut Timothy Kopra, professional golfer Tom Kite, Olympic rower Kaitlin Knifton, and actor Austin Nichols.
